As you likely know, the amount of information and resources available to the public are saturated with messages offering “simple,” “easy,” and “quick” weight-loss for the everyday individual.
Imagine this. You’ve decided to make a change for your weight and health, but you don’t know where to start. A quick Google search or a television commercial will bring up success stories of people who have conquered weight-loss through popular supplements, commercial ads or strict nutrition plans. You might even hear the phrase that many of us are all too familiar with: just eat less and move more.
However, as you may also likely know, the journey with weight and health is certainly not as simple and painless as it’s often made out to be. Many different factors affect our weight and our ability to either gain, lose or maintain it. There’s no “easy” solution or formula for weight-loss when you consider all of the things which impact our journey.
Not as Easy as 1, 2, 3…
Let’s take a look at some of the other things that affect our journey with weight and health.
- Genetics – Research shows that our weight can be greatly affected by our genes and the health of our parents. In fact, childhood studies conclude obesity to be as high as 70 percent genetic with 30 percent related to psycho-social and environmental factors.
- Environment – Our environment plays a significant role in affecting our weight. Think of the types of food that are readily available to you or the number of gyms/places where you can safely exercise in your neighborhood or town. These are just a few of ways the environment can shape your health.
- Behavior – We most commonly associate struggles with weight as a result of human behavior, although this isn’t always the cause. Behavior refers to choices such as making decisions about food and deciding whether or not to make room for physical activity.
- Circumstance – What if you’re sick? Injured? Taking care of a friend or family member, or juggling work with school or other activities? Life happens – and unfortunately, it can also affect our weight.
Understanding the “Reality” of Weight-loss: What Works for You?
Every body is different, and so is every individual’s journey with weight and health. For some, the eat less, move more equation may actually work. And if it does, that’s awesome! However, different strategies will work for different people – so it’s important to know all of your options.
- Exercise – Exercise is an essential part to any long-term weight management plan, but it may not be the “magic” method for everyone. Physical fitness can help you improve your weight and overall health (such as muscle function, cardiorespiratory health, etc.), so determine what type of exercise plan is right for you and your goals.
- Nutrition – Just because that diet worked for somebody else doesn’t mean it will work for you! Identify what foods you enjoy and can help you stay on track with your weight management plan. The golden rule? Eat with moderation and balance, and practice mindful eating habits along the way. For more information about mindful eating, please CLICK HERE.
- Supplements – Consider dietary supplements as an insurance policy. If your healthy nutrition plan isn’t giving you the vitamins, minerals, etc. that your body needs, supplements can help fill the gap. Remember – critically evaluate supplement labels to determine what’s safe, effective and affordable. Your food should be doing most of the work!
- Pharmacotherapy – Long-term drug therapy can help provide assistance with weight-loss if you’re seeking medically managed help through a physician’s recommendations. Talk to your doctor about your specific concerns and challenges, and decide together if this is a route worth looking into.
Remember – what works best for someone else isn’t always what works best for you, and weight-loss is not always as simple as it’s made out to be. Your individual body, your goals and your experiences are all unique…and your journey with weight and health is, too!
